A chapter a day… Gabrielle Williams shares the process of writing The Reluctant Hallelujah
Gabrielle Williams latest novel – The Reluctant Hallelujah is now available in stores.
After a successful launch party for The Reluctant Hallelujah this past Wednesday evening, (full details can be seen and read here) we thought we might alert you to the fascinating and entertaining article Gabrielle shared with our readers in February’s edition of Off The Shelf.
You can read Gabrielle’s article here.
Posted in New Books, Secondary, Special Guest
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New books for Secondary – March 2012
The Shiny Guys by DOUG MACLEOD
‘Wouldn’t it be funny if they were real?’
‘Shiny red men?’
‘What if I were the sane one and everyone else was mad?’
One night, the shiny guys visit fifteen-year-old Colin Lapsley. They don’t speak, but Colin can read their thoughts. They want him to pay for the terrible thing that he has done. When the shiny guys won’t go away, Colin is admitted to ward 44. Ther he discovers an alien world, a powerful weapon, a gentle giant, and a girl who may be able to see what he can see. The Shiny Guys is a dark, sometimes funny novel about how fantasy and reality can merge, especially when electricity is involved.
Highly recommended as a class novel study consideration for Year’s 9 – 10. Teaching notes soon to be available.
Reluctant Hallelujah by GABRIELLE WILLIAMS
But there I go, getting ahead of myself. Skipping straight to the part where I was front-page news and they were calling me Dorothy, instead of starting at the beginning . . .
When Dodie’s parents go missing just as final year exams are about to start, she convinces herself they’re fine. But when the least likely boy in class holds the key — quite literally — to the huge secret her parents have been hiding all these years, it’s up to Dodie, her sister, the guy from school, and two guys she’s never met before, to take on the challenge of a lifetime. So now Dodie’s driving — unlicensed — to Sydney, and being chased by bad guys, the police, and one very handsome good guy. From the acclaimed author of Beatle Meets Destiny
Things a map won’t show you: stories from Australia and beyond
by Pam Macintyre-Susan La Marca
An unforgettable collection of short fiction, poetry and comic art from Australia and beyond . . .
A boy who tries to fly, a cricket game in a refugee centre, a government guide to kissing, the perils of hunting goannas, an arranged marriage, an awkward blind date, a girl who stands on her head, an imprisoned king and a cursed Maori stone . . .
Sometimes funny, sometimes dramatic, always compelling, this collection featuring both established writers and emerging talent will broaden your horizons and excite your imagination.
Perfect for use in the lower Secondary classroom (Year 7 & 8) this collection is set to become an invaluable resource for Teachers’ and Librarian’s Australia wide.
Including stories by: James Roy * Tanveer Ahmed * Michael Pryor * Ursula Dubosarsky * Sonya Hartnett * Doug MacLeod * Oliver Phommavanh * Brenton McKenna * Tara June Winch * Sudha Murty * Oodgeroo
Posted in Australian Curriculum, New Books, Resources, Secondary
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New books for Primary – March 2012
A Bear and a Tree by STEPHEN MICHAEL KING
Ren knows that it’s almost time for Bear’s big sleep, but she needs just one more day with him.
One day to explore the winter together – the last of the coloured leaves, the snow as it floats and swirls to the ground, the sun and the moon and the stars.
One more day to play and dance and wonder.
From this much-admired children’s book creator comes a story of friendship and change, and of how precious time can be when we share it with those we love.
Puma Rumour: Mission Fox Book 5 by JUSTIN D’ATH & HEATH MCKENZIE
A NOISE CAME FROM INSIDE THE TRAP. IT DIDN’T SOUND PLEASED AT ALL.
GRRRRRRRR.
Something’s been taking sheep from the farms near Nullambine National Park. Could it be the legendary Nullambine Puma? When Mission fox set a trap to find out, they catch a whole lot of trouble. IT LOOKS LIKE THEIR SNEAKIEST MISSION YET . . .
Zebra Rampage: Mission Fox Book 6 by JUSTIN D’ATH & HEATH MCKENZIE
JORDAN WATCHED THE BABY ZEBRA FOR A FEW SECONDS. ITS EYES WERE CLOSED. ‘SOMETHING’S WRONG,’ HE SAID.
Harry and Jordan Fox are on a chairlift ride at Nullambine Zoo when they spy a baby zebra in danger. It looks like a Code Bright Red mission. Can they outrun a charging zebra and outsmart a river of hippos in time to save the baby’s life? IT LOOKS LIKE THEIR STRIPEY-ESST MISSION YET . . .
My Brother’s a Snotrocket Book 3 by GRETEL KILLEEN
It’s not easy saving the world from your crazy alien neighbours, but that’s what Zeke and Eppie Have to do today. So far they’ve been turned into an egghead, catapulted through the air in an enormous bra, plopped into a ginormous ice-cream and then dragged through space in a stocking.
Yes, the alien neighbours have stolen the world’s only ice-cream tree, so Zeke and Eppie have to chase them through the galaxy. They’ll be swallowed by a groper, ride on a snot magic carpet and find aliens in their tummies. But they have to save the ice-cream tree and return home safely or the world will be sad forever!!!!!!!
Save our Sharks: Aussie Bites by DAVID METZENTHEN & CRAIG SMITH
Can the Seaport Junior Sharks football team transform their dried-out, rabbit-infested oval into a decent football ground, turn a rabble into a proper football team, and beat the Bully Bull Ants in the final?
Posted in New Books, Primary, Uncategorized
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Excerpt Article from February Off The Shelf- Doug Macleod
Posted in New Books, Q&A, Secondary
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Behind the scenes of Lily and The Fairy House by Jane Tanner
Lily knows that fairies live near the gum tree.
She has created a fairy house with a rose
petal bed and a gum leaf table, and today
she is preparing a fairy party . . .
But will the fairies come and play?
Lily and the Fairy House is pure wish-fulfilment, a magical fairy book for girls of all ages. The perfect companion to the bestselling Isabella’s Secret.
As we count down the days to sharing Jane Tanner’s new picture book Lily and the Fairy House this coming April, today we are delighted to be able to share with you a behind the scenes sneak peek into Jane’s work processes for Lily and the Fairy House.
Jane’s 14-year-old grandson has taken the time to photograph the various stages of Jane’s work and collate the images on a website he built himself. The website and the images on it (aside from being fascinating to look at) are a lovely way to introduce your students to the many small steps that combine to give them a finished book students can read, enjoy and share with others.
For those of you using 1:1 mobile devices in your classroom this idea could also be a way to inspire students to document a process that they find interesting to share with family, friends and class mates.
The website can be found here.
Teachers’ Notes – Pizza Cake by Morris Gleitzman
Saving Ms Fosdyke
Dad was flabbergasted when I told him the news. He nearly dropped the plate he was washing up. He stared at me, water dripping off his elbows.
‘Fifty million?’ he said. ‘Your school is selling Ms Fosdyke to West Chirnside Primary for fifty million dollars?’
I nodded sadly.
‘That’s crazy,’ said Dad. ‘They could get heaps more for a teacher like her. The primary school near the library just paid over seventy million for a year-four teacher with half her experience.’
Stories with the lot! Pizza Cake is a new collection of 10 funny short stories for kids from one of our bestselling authors, Morris Gleitzman.
Teachers’ notes for Pizza Cake are now available for download here.
Posted in Australian Curriculum, Family, Primary, Resources
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Penguin Teachers’ Corner Catalogue 2012
The 2012 Penguin Teachers’ Corner Catalogue is now available for download.
The Penguin Catalogue 2012 contains all of our new books for children and young adults for 2012. We aim to ensure that our Penguin Teachers’ Corner Catalogue is an invaluable resource to assist you with class novel selections, library and classroom library selections for Early Years, Middle Years and Secondary classrooms.
You can download your complete copy of the Penguin Teachers’ Corner Catalogue here, or browse the catalogue by relevant section here.
Posted in New Books, Primary, Resources, Secondary
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